The Philippine national football team fell to Singapore, 1-nil, to lose by the same score on aggregate and end its journey in the ASEAN Football Federation Suzuki Cup Wednesday at the Jalan Besar Stadium in the city-state.

The Azkals came into the match with high hopes after battling the Lions to a nil-nil draw in Manila last Saturday. But Singapore showed its fangs early in the match, as Khairul Amri scored off a set piece at the 19th minute after catching the Philippine defense napping, breaking the Azkals’ three-match clean sheet streak.

Singapore continued to dominate most of the first half, controlling possession as the Philippines played sloppy football, before the Azkals showed some signs of life just before the break.

Things seemed to turn around for the Azkals in the second half, controlling the possession and building up their offense better. Chieffy Caligdong and Demitrius Omphroy came on as substitutes to try to stir things up for the Azkals, but were still unable to get the equalizing goal that could have carried the squad to the finals.

Azkals coach Hans Michael Weiss threw caution to the wind late in the match, subbing in forward Denis Wolf for defender Carli De Murga and playing with just three men on defense in a last-ditch effort to score. But luck didn’t smile on the Azkals despite numerous chances late.

Singapore, a three-time champion of the tournament, advances to the final against the winner of the other semifinal series between Thailand and Malaysia.

The Philippines’ Department of Transportation and Communications is starting a project that will speed up ticketing in the three train lines in Metro Manila, Philippines by introducing a common system across the entire network. Each line currently has separate ticketing systems.

The contactless tickets will use NFC technology to do away with long queues by allowing commuters to tap their tickets onto terminals. This lets users move onto the trains more quickly.

Efficiency in transportation is one of the biggest problems in the Philippines that has yet to be solved. In fact, a number of apps were created by some startups in an attempt to alleviate the pains of the commuters. However, the train systems in the country has yet to be improved.

Every train line in the city has long queues especially during rush hour. People want to avoid heavy traffic on the roads, so they try to avoid this with trains. However, since there are three lines with disparate systems, people have to bear the burden of lining up for tickets once they exit one line and enter another.

The Philippine government’s transportation agency opened the bidding for different consortium last week with the goal of finding a company that can provide them with “a sound and viable technical solution.”

Upon leading the bid, MPIC director Manny Pangilinan says their goal here is to make the Philippine train lines similar to the automated train systems in Singapore and Hong Kong.

Apart from improving the train systems, the Department is also looking into integrating similar automated technology into buses and toll roads. In addition, MPIC president Jose Marie Lim says the card system can also be applied into the retail market in the future such as micro retail payments and banking.

While the Ayala-Metro Pacific partnership led the bidding the final decision will take place within the next two weeks. Once the decision is in, it may be expected that the project will start by next year.

In light of the calamity of typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda that left our fellowmen in Southern Visayas helpless.Artists of different ages,genres and backgrounds gather together for one common goal. To make this video as an encouragement to people to open their hearts, lend a helping hand and to thank the nations that offered aid to our country. WE ARE FOREVER GRATEFUL.To our fellow Filipinos, STAY STRONG! United we stand! BANGON VISAYAS! WALANG IWANAN!

SUPERSTORM COMING. Tropical Storm “Haiyan,” which is expected to strengthen in 48 hours into a supertyphoon with peak intensity of 241 kilometers per hour, is forecast to make landfall in the Samar-Leyte area by Friday afternoon. It will be named “Yolanda” when it enters the Philippine area of responsibility. DOST-PAGASA MAP

Tropical Storm “Haiyan” will likely turn into a supertyphoon as it enters the Philippine area of responsibility in the next 48 hours, US meteorologists said on Tuesday.

“Due to very favorable environmental conditions, rapid intensification is forecast over the next 48 hours with a peak intensity of 130 knots (241 kilometers per hour),” said a forecast by the Hawaii-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC).

The JTWC of the US Department of Defense categorizes storms with wind speeds of 241 kph as a supertyphoon. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) officially uses no such classification.

Haiyan, which will be named “Yolanda” when it enters the Philippine area of responsibility, is expected to arrive on Thursday morning and make landfall in the Samar-Leyte area by Friday afternoon, Pagasa said.

It will have turned into a typhoon once it comes in, moving westward at 25 kph, weather forecasting section chief Rene Paciente said.

“It will cut through Visayas and exit through Mindoro. If it maintains its westward track, it has a low chance of hitting Metro Manila. But it may also go west-northwest,” he said.

The JTWC echoed the Pagasa forecast, saying Haiyan will make landfall over central Philippines.

It “will then weaken as it tracks across the Philippine islands but should emerge over the South China Sea at near 115 knot intensity (214 kph).

Pagasa uses a different method in calculating wind speeds and its numbers tend to be more conservative than the JTWC’s.

Disaster councils activated

The disaster councils in Eastern and Central Visayas are being activated to prepare for Yolanda.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Region 7 has instructed all local disaster risk reduction management councils to implement preemptive evacuations of people living in danger areas.

“We have issued advisories to all local disaster risk reduction management councils across the region that we aim for zero casualty and preemptive evacuation must be done if necessary,” said OCD 7 admin officer Flor Gaviola.

Gaviola said people living on riverbanks, and in landslide-and flood-prone areas would be monitored.

Alternative evacuation centers, such as schools, gymnasiums or multipurpose halls must be identified, she said.

In case these were damaged by the recent 7-magnitude quake, local and disaster officials must find another venue like the basketball court, according to Gaviola.

In Mandaue City, Mayor Jonas Cortes activated the five clusters of 27 barangays (villages), with each head tasked with disseminating information to the public about the incoming typhoon.

Mandaue information officer Roger Paller said Cortes also had directed forced evacuation of families living near the Mahiga creek once the river reached the critical level.

“If in case Yolanda makes landfall in the region, the people should seek temporary shelter in a sturdy building or on high ground,” said Rey Gozon, the regional director of the OCD and chair of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Gozon appealed to fishermen not to venture to the open seas during this time to avoid getting lost or, worse, getting killed.

On alert in Bicol

Most local disaster officials in Bicol on Tuesday went on alert as they brace for Yolanda.

In Albay province, Gov. Joey Salceda, in a text message, declared Albay in a “state of heightened alert and close monitoring.”

He said the advisory was “in view of prevailing models of the weather system” which might greatly affect the province.

In Catanduanes province, Ramil Soliveres, public information officer of the provincial government, in a phone interview, said the local government had “pre-positioned” plans and rescue forces.

100 bags of rice

He said the province initially bought 100 bags of rice before noon on Tuesday so it could have available stock of relief items for towns difficult to reach in case of landslides.

In Masbate province, Gov. Rizalina Seachon-Lanete, in a phone interview, said she was meeting with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC).

Dennis Fernandez, officer in charge of Research and Planning Department of the Masbate PDRRMC, said the council was closely coordinating with the Department of Social Welfare and Development to ensure there would be relief stocks in evacuation centers.

Prayers

Other local officials like Mayor Alexis San Luis of Pili, Camarines Sur province, in a message over Facebook, appealed for prayers and cooperation from netizens.

He said Yolanda might cause waters to rise from Bicol River, which traverses the coastal areas of Camarines Sur.

Wilma

As for the weather disturbance formerly known as “Wilma,” which has turned into a low-pressure area, it was some 160 kilometers northeast of Puerto Princesa City as of Tuesday morning, Pagasa said.

But it may still strengthen once over the West Philippine Sea, Pagasa said.

Based on Pagasa’s 24-hour outlook, Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) will experience cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms, which may trigger flash floods and landslides.

Western Visayas and Bicol province will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms, it said.

“Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms,” Pagasa said.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over Luzon and Western Visayas and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.

Non-Singaporeans can become Singapore Permanent Residents (SPRs) by obtaining an Entry Permit. An application for an Entry Permit is an application for Singapore Permanent Residence. The following categories of foreigners are eligible to submit applications:

Spouse and unmarried children (below 21 years old) of a Singapore Citizen (SC)/Permanent Resident (SPR);

Applicants may submit their application and supporting documents through the Singapore Embassy. The Mission will not need to collect any processing fees on behalf of ICA. Upon approval of PR application, the successful applicant will have to complete the PR formalities in person at the ICA Building in Singapore. ICA itself does not collect processing fees and only collects certain fees for issuance of documents (fees to be paid directly to ICA at ICA itself will be clearly stated in the approval letter).

Singapore is accepting fewer new citizens and permanent residents because of growing resentment against foreigners.

The number of people given permanent resident status declined to 27,521 in 2011 from 29,265 in 2010. Far more people were allowed to become permanent residents in the previous three years: 59,460 people became permanent residents in 2009, 79,167 in 2009 and 63,627 in 2008.

Our intake of new citizens increased from an average of 8,200 per year between 1987 and 2006, to about 18,500 per year in the last 5 years. We also took in an average of 58,000 Permanent Residents (PRs) per year between 2004 and 2008, but have tightened our immigration framework since late-2009 and reduced the intake to an average of 28,500 per year from 2010 onwards.

From 2007-2011, 48% of PRs were granted to working individuals, and the remaining were dependants (spouses and children) of SCs and PRs. 63% of all PRs granted were under 30 years old and they help to mitigate our ageing population. Most new PRs also have good educational qualifications. Of those aged 20 and above, 74% had a diploma or higher qualification.

Like PR applications, citizenship applications are subject to a holistic and thorough assessment process.

PRs are granted citizenship only after they have completed the Singapore Citizenship Journey and renounced their foreign citizenships. From 2007-2011, 38% of new SCs were granted to working individuals, while 62% were dependants. Like new PRs, new citizens are generally young and have good educational qualifications. 53% were under 30 years old, and of those over 20 years old, 61% had a diploma or higher qualification.

The 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit Bohol, Cebu and other adjacent provinces on 15 October 2013 caused so much damage to many people in the affected areas. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that 156 people died, 374 were injured, while 22 are still missing. The total cost of damage is PHP75.15 million, including the 2,066 houses, 20 bridges and 4 roads that were destroyed.

Your donations for the affected residents would mean a lot. The Embassy, however, encourages monetary donations, as it is the most flexible, given the accessibility concerns in the affected areas.

Please refer to the following for more details on how to send your cash donations: